Greenwich Boy

30 minutes ago, geisha said:

But did you have a thousand ( slight exaggeration) taxi drivers shouting and touting you at arrivals ? Ugly beaches, invasion by the nation I won’t name , humidity, heavy rains , it’s not the Bali I knew ! The Balinese though are a pleasure , kind , helpful and mostly honest IMO.

Also speak very good English. 

A little harsh, I get someone I know to pick me up from the airport otherwise the taxi system can be a bit of a zoo. Bogan Australis is a pest in some parts ????. Not seen any draft dodgers here in Sanur. From May to August the weather is lovely. Low humidity and almost no rain. I will move on early September

32 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

How many days does the initial VOA get you on arrival?

30 days. As all VOA's are paid for now (500k) all can be extended

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Something like that deters me actually. I don't fancy going back to Bali because the VOA requirement is back. Not really about the money though, more to do with having to queue in slow moving inefficient long lines!

Evisa is available for Bali. I arrived last month and paid on arrival. No queue. Having said that the queue for immigration was horrible and extending the visa took two weeks and requires three trips to immigration if an agent is not used

20 hours ago, BritTim said:

I think the strongest evidence that the authorities are not keen on long stay tourists is that the Special Tourist visa was only allowed under the special conditions that prevailed during Covid. If people staying nine months as a tourist was considered desirable, they would have continued to allow a nine month stay by receiving extensions at Immigration. You are correct, though, that denying entry to those with visas (single or multiple entry) was not common, and restricted to a few airports plus the land crossing at Aranyaprathet/Poipet. I cannot prove that long stay tourists are more generally disdained.

To add and agree with your comment on long term tourists not being overly welcome. I got a Special Tourist Visa in April 2021. Did my first extension in Chiang Mai to be told that the extension was from the day of application not added to the permission to stay stamp. At the time the scheme was due to finish 30 Sept so another hurried extension. An announcement that this visa was to continue was made on 29th Sept so really handy for those of us who like to plan ahead. I did get over 9 months stay in the end but used an agent in the end to take some of the pain a2ay.

11 hours ago, BritTim said:

I think I recall a recent post by a UK national who received a visa in Australia without being a resident. Maybe that will change if Australia switches to the e-visa system, but I suspect visas will continue to be issued to non residents under some circumstances.

That could have been me. Postal application to Canberra. The only item I had to provide as a non citizen was my version of an Aussie tourist visa. That may not be the correct terminology. All quite easy, I am planning a similar application from Wellington in September, we shall see 

28 minutes ago, Hikage said:

Shows how things have changed.... onward travel was never a requirement when entering on a TV. Seems you applied at Canberra which looks to be more strict than Sydney.

It was Canberra. I have applied for plenty of TV's over the years, triple entry, double entry, 15 days at a land border then 30 days as a G7 passport holder (that one baffled me). One of the daftest current regulations is no onward travel is required once you have a TR60 but in many cases you now need onward travel to get the TR60. I am too old to worry about the logic, plenty of ways to fiddle things if necessary.

15 hours ago, Hikage said:

Did you have to pre-book air tickets as part of the application?

I provided a flight in to Thailand. I typed a note saying that I may extend my SETV beyond 60 days and so the details of my flight out were uncertain. This was accepted. I.e No onward flight required 

I got a TR 60 by post from Canberra late last year. Took just over a week to get back to me in Adelaide. Wrote a note explaining that I was not sure if I was going to extend so no proof of onward travel required. Had to provide my Aussie visa as I am a Brit. Easy.

2 hours ago, anotherfarangishere said:

Thank you: I've booked a cheap Thai Air Asia flight Busan/Kuala Lumpur and I'll fly from Kuala Lumpur to Chiang Mai.

What do you mean by "avoid too many back to backs"? Visa run on Mae Sai?

No, your two land border entries at Mae Sai are pretty much guaranteed and really only count against you if they pull the 'too much time in Thailand' card at an airport. By back to back I mean maxing out your say 30 plus 30 days, flying out then back immediately. I always stay out for 3 or 4 nights. Some great places nearby, I am currently enjoying DaNang. Dirt cheap from CNX

My own experience. Been flying in to CNX direct for over 10 years with either TR or VE. No problems at all. Normally stay 4 or 5 months but then stay out for at least 4 months.

I always have hotel booking and onward flight just in case.

Recent visits, May 2021 to April 2022 Special Tourist Visa and 2 covid ext.

Jan 23 to June 23 (just left for Vietnam) SETV, extension and two side trips to Singapore and Osaka.

All entries except one via CNX. Be polite, provide what they ask for if anything, avoid too many back to backs and Chiang Mai is a good place to enter.

Bali is a no go as they have stopped issuing visas. Applications must be made in Jakarta

2 hours ago, BritTim said:

This is a very important question, and the answer probably not what people want to hear. The days of staying long term in Thailand on tourist visas (from neighbouring countries) and visa exemptions seem to be coming to an end. Most embassies/consulates that were lenient in their requirements have been tightening up. The precise criteria they are using is usually unclear. Reports on recent experiences at embassies/consulates in the region would be very welcome.

 

To start with, here is my assessment of the locations that were considered easy a few years ago:

Vientiane: Still considered a good place to apply, but requires an appointment in order to go there. It is often not possible to find an appointment slot unless you book very well in advance. Historically (and in the absence of updated reports hopefully still) they will give you a tourist visa if you do not already have two issued by them visible in your current passport.

Savannakhet: Was until recently considered an excellent place to apply, with the only drawback being that it is insanely busy when visa run groups arrive (typically Mondays and Thursdays). There are reports that this consulate is now using strict criteria when deciding whether to grant you a tourist visa. One reported guideline is that they will not provide a tourist visa if you have spent over 90 days within the last six months in Thailand as a tourist. They may also deny you if you have over the last few years spent long periods in Thailand without a long term extension to stay. Pending new reports, this consulate should no longer be considered a soft touch.

Hanoi: At one time, this was one of the best places to apply. Almost all recent reports state this embassy is now both unfriendly and strict, especially on providing tourist visas. Best avoided.

Ho Chi Minh City: Since Saigon is a great city to visit, this has long been a favourite place to go. You now need an appointment to apply there. More important, their criteria for providing visas (including tourist visas) have become stricter, with denied applications more frequent.

Yangon: Historically, they had requirements you needed to meet, but were flexible and seem rarely to have denied tourist visa applications. Since it is not a popular city to visit (because of visa requirements to enter Myanmar, and the instability within the country) this embassy has never been very busy. I suspect this is still a good place to go for a tourist visa, though there have been no recent trip reports.

Hong Kong: Sadly, you can no longer apply here unless you are a Hong Kong resident.

Penang: This consulate is now exceptionally busy, and they only accept a limited number of applicants per day. It should probably be avoided but, if you do decide to go there, queue to submit your tourist visa application well before the consulate opens in the morning.

Kota Bharu: A few years ago, this was a decent place to apply, although inconvenient to travel to, and a boring area for many (strict Muslim). I have seen zero recent reports 

 

Briefly, here is a discussion of other nearby embassies and consulates.

Phnom Penh: Previously considered strict (and it has not become easier) it is now worth consideration just because other places, for the most part, have become similarly difficult. One drawback (assuming your application for a tourist visa is accepted) is that the process takes several days. It is not overnight as with many other locations.

Kuala Lumpur: Has oscillated between a good embassy and terrible. Recent reports suggest it should be avoided but (from experience) this could change at short notice.

Singapore, Jakarta, Bali, Seoul: Very difficult to get Thai tourist visas here.

 

Who can provide first hand trip reports on their recent experiences?

Good post Tim. From recent reports Bali is a no go as it is a Consulate. Applications must be via the Embassy in Jakarta. Shame as they were helpful in the past.

1 hour ago, jonclark said:

Apparently all people who depart Thailand have to pay the fee including Thais to discourage them from spending too much money abroad.. ????

Not how I read it. Thais and foreign permanent residents. Think that excludes people on long term permission of stays. Could have interpreted it wrong of course but it is a brain fart of an idea anyway

5 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

Well...I think when you look to Japan, it is a bit different, isn't?

I was in Japan last month. The vast majority of locals were wearing masks, most foreigners (including me) were not. At no point did I notice any animosity to those not masked. More an 'each to their own' attitude. Certainly different to Thailand where some locals would give me a very wide berth last year even when masked

8 minutes ago, transam said:

Was CM on the dodgy list, officers removed...?

Don't think so. All polite, just their own version of rules. Got my stamp so no big deal.

20 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Yes. Done at Laksi.

Those with tourist visa attend CW. 

 

 

You will need to provide TM30.

You can make appointment. 

 

Just for info my printed TM30 screenshot was not accepted at CM today, not sure why. I had to queue to get the correct TM30 and then queue again to get my stamp. No big deal but another 30 mins. This was for a visa exempt extension.

On 4/12/2023 at 7:56 AM, DrJack54 said:

Don't doubt your experience.

Just surprised.

I sometimes post that flights from nearby countries almost always have airline requesting onward flight.

Strange that long haul flights often do not.

Also low cost airlines eg AirAsia very strict.

 

As someone suggested that if there is an issue just step away from check in and book "rent a ticket" 

Personal experiences obviously differ. My own is very much pot luck. Flying out of CNX to Osaka last week I was asked for a return flight. I pointed out that I was returning with the same airline in one week and that the details would be on the clever machine in front of her. Not good enough, printed itinerary needed. Been doing this for years, if I had a recommendation just have an 'onward flight' and avoid all the stress. $12 is cheap

Just my recent experiences this year visa exempt. KL to Chiang Mai no checks, Singapore to Krabi ditto. Checked in Osaka to Chiang Mai 10 mins ago, no onward flight asked for. Have 20k and onward flight in back pocket just for peace of mind.

On 4/8/2023 at 7:01 PM, richard_smith237 said:

Officially…. 
- A return ticket ( within visa exempt duration).

- 20,000 baht currency equivalent in cash.

 

Some will argue and use anecdote that they have never needed these, however, those are the requirements. 
Some may argue a credit card is ok for the cash requirement, again, that’s not so clear. 

As far as covid is concerned…  no longer any requirements for PCR or fax cert etc. 

 

I have a passport full of Thai entry stamps and prefer things to go as smoothly as possible. Flying to CNX this week. Will have 20k and onward flight. Rarely get checked but playing safe costs nothing 

8 hours ago, Hal65 said:

Ok then. Are there any good embassys in Indonesia, or nearby countries? I may do a visa stopover if so. I see there's a Thai consulate in Denpasar

As a Consulate Bali do not issue visas (according to reviews on their website) Shame as they were very helpful in the past 

You can get a 30 day extension for 1,900B. Go to the immigration office in Central Festival, it is less busy than the main airport immigration office.

Last year I applied via the Evisa system in London for a Special Tourist Visa. Realise this is not exactly the same but I had to show proof of accommodation. Attached the relevant page of my lease agreement and it was accepted.